Meg & Linus by Hanna Nowinski
This book is something new, its subject matter only arising in the past decade or so as “acceptable;" the two main characters are openly gay. Nowinski’s portrayal of these characters is beautiful and keeps in mind that they are only seventeen, and they really do make mistakes. The characters feel real, and I was rather touched to read such an accurate portrayal of queer teenagers and their everyday struggles (which aren’t so different than everybody else’s…). At its heart, this is really just a tale about friends working out their last year of high school. This slice of life story is refreshing, with an ending that reminds you of the reality of it all.
Bang by Barry Lyga
“Bang”— a startling title for a startlingly relevant book. It tells the story of a boy struggling with his past; when he was four, he shot his little sister by accident. He’s a well-read fourteen-year-old who loves old movies and video games and grapples with suicidal thoughts. His overwhelming guilt reminds you that whatever you’ve done… it cannot compare to what he did. However true this may be, the book blooms into one of extremely needed reconciliation with not only his demons but also the people who love him most. Parts of the book remind you of the current times, make you notice and understand them, as well as grip you in a beautiful suspense. Bang is a must-read.
None of the Above by I.W. Gregorio
Another important book that’s new to our library, None of the Above is the tale of a girl who is diagnosed with AIS, or androgen insensitivity syndrome; not for the faint of heart, and yet everyone should read this. The book doesn’t lack the teenage clichés of high school. In fact, it’s filled with them. However, the clichés are not a bad thing, and they serve a purpose: to show that everyone, even intersex people, has relationship drama, friend drama, and troubles with bullying. None of the Above is massively important in the world today, as it covers a topic hardly anyone unaffected by AIS knows about. The topic opens many conversation topics that need to be talked about and brought up to more than just those touched by AIS. This is a beautiful book with a surprisingly happy ending and a very real story.
Whatever: a novel by S. J. Goslee
It’s a great book— really, I promise. Whatever is the essence of teenage discovery… and it’s really fun. For any guy, or anyone really, who is questioning their sexuality, this is a good book. It assures you that it’s okay to question, to make mistakes, and to be different. Our school may be rather open, but this book opens a window into another school— or, rather, another group of people— that may not be so open to these questions and assures you that no matter what, things are probably going to turn out well. I read it in a day, practically, and I loved it. I hope, if you’re interested, you can enjoy it as much as I did.
All of these books can be found in the NSA Library! Happy Reading!
This book is something new, its subject matter only arising in the past decade or so as “acceptable;" the two main characters are openly gay. Nowinski’s portrayal of these characters is beautiful and keeps in mind that they are only seventeen, and they really do make mistakes. The characters feel real, and I was rather touched to read such an accurate portrayal of queer teenagers and their everyday struggles (which aren’t so different than everybody else’s…). At its heart, this is really just a tale about friends working out their last year of high school. This slice of life story is refreshing, with an ending that reminds you of the reality of it all.
Bang by Barry Lyga
“Bang”— a startling title for a startlingly relevant book. It tells the story of a boy struggling with his past; when he was four, he shot his little sister by accident. He’s a well-read fourteen-year-old who loves old movies and video games and grapples with suicidal thoughts. His overwhelming guilt reminds you that whatever you’ve done… it cannot compare to what he did. However true this may be, the book blooms into one of extremely needed reconciliation with not only his demons but also the people who love him most. Parts of the book remind you of the current times, make you notice and understand them, as well as grip you in a beautiful suspense. Bang is a must-read.
None of the Above by I.W. Gregorio
Another important book that’s new to our library, None of the Above is the tale of a girl who is diagnosed with AIS, or androgen insensitivity syndrome; not for the faint of heart, and yet everyone should read this. The book doesn’t lack the teenage clichés of high school. In fact, it’s filled with them. However, the clichés are not a bad thing, and they serve a purpose: to show that everyone, even intersex people, has relationship drama, friend drama, and troubles with bullying. None of the Above is massively important in the world today, as it covers a topic hardly anyone unaffected by AIS knows about. The topic opens many conversation topics that need to be talked about and brought up to more than just those touched by AIS. This is a beautiful book with a surprisingly happy ending and a very real story.
Whatever: a novel by S. J. Goslee
It’s a great book— really, I promise. Whatever is the essence of teenage discovery… and it’s really fun. For any guy, or anyone really, who is questioning their sexuality, this is a good book. It assures you that it’s okay to question, to make mistakes, and to be different. Our school may be rather open, but this book opens a window into another school— or, rather, another group of people— that may not be so open to these questions and assures you that no matter what, things are probably going to turn out well. I read it in a day, practically, and I loved it. I hope, if you’re interested, you can enjoy it as much as I did.
All of these books can be found in the NSA Library! Happy Reading!